What does this tool help you learn?

This
tool helps you find out how smoking affects
your chance of having a heart attack in the next 10 years. The information for this tool is based on
the Framingham Heart Study. Since 1948 the Framingham Heart Study has studied
the progression of heart disease and the risk factors of heart disease.

If you smoke and also have other
risk factors for heart disease, your risk may be higher than this tool says it is.

This
information was adapted from the National Cholesterol Education Program and
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, a part of the National Institutes of
Health and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2004). Risk
Assessment tool for estimating your 10-year risk of having a heart attack.
Available online: http://hp2010.nhlbihin.net/atpiii/calculator.asp.

What does your score mean?

Your score will appear
in values from 1% to 99%. If your score is Nonsmoker: 2%
and Smoker: 6%, it means that for your age and gender 2
out of 100 nonsmokers compared with 6 out of 100 smokers will have a heart
attack in the next 10 years. In this example, smokers are 3 times more likely
than nonsmokers to have a heart attack in the next 10 years.

What's next?

If you are concerned about your score,
talk to your doctor about lowering your risk for a heart attack. Quitting
smoking may be the most important step you can take to reduce your risk of
heart disease. According to the World Health Organization, the risk of coronary
artery disease decreases by 50% in the first year after quitting. You can start lowering your risk right away by quitting smoking.

National Cholesterol Education Program and National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, a part of the National Institutes of Health and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2004). Risk Assessment tool for estimating your 10-year risk of having a heart attack. Available online: http://hp2010.nhlbihin.net/atpiii/calculator.asp.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (2010). A Report of the Surgeon
General: How tobacco smoke causes disease: The biology and
behavioral basis for smoking-attributable disease. Available online: http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/tobaccosmoke/report/full_report.pdf.

This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use.
How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.